Firearm



Aug. 22, 1967 H. D. ALLYN Y 3,335,69

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INVENTOR.

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United States Patent P 3,336,691 FIREARM Harold D. Allyn, 10 Sumner Ave., Springfield, Mass. 01108 Filed Sept. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 485,990 3 Claims. (Cl. 42--75) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A stock and barrel fastening subassembly in a gun inclusive of an inverted U-shaped grooved receiver and a grooved front insert mating .therewith for nesting therewith-in and bottominlg on the stock in combination with an apertured locking plate positionable forwardly of the front insert with the barrel being extendable through the aperture thereof for threaded engagement in the opening of the front insert, lthere being additionally means for interengaging the locking plate and buffer in contiguous relation for the transmission of the blows of the recoil mechanism from the buffer to the locking plate, and means for engaging the guide rod relative to the locking plate, and means for pulling the buffer downwardly with reference to the guide rod for effecting downward pull of the locking plate and concomitant downward pull of the barrel-receiver-front insert assemblage relative to the stock.

This invention relates to improvements in autoloading firearms of the jet piston type and particularly envisions n'es of the type having the desir-able features of similar contemporary sporting guns while advantageously incorporating the characteristics of basic simplicity and ruggedness normally associated with military firearms.

Certain components of the weap-on are preferentially formed from s-tampings or castings, yet the assembled firearm offers the appearance of a more expensive gun made from machined forgings, all without sacrifice of strength, durability, or reliability of operation.

In its design, attendant manufacturing and cost problems have been kept uppermost in mind, the usual number of operating parts having been greatly reduced, and expensive machining operations having been assiduously avoided. Furthermore, none of the parts are unreasonably small or objectionably intricate, each being of -a size and configuration to insure such strength as to allow withstanding of the shocks normally encountered in autoloading firing.

Herewith, a fundamentally new concept of construction is provided, particularly las respects the hammer, trigger, Sear, safety, housing, and magazine catch components, which components require only la pair of pins and a trio of springs in order to assure .their assemblage into a functioning unit.

To particularize, the safety component is of a design such as to provide a greater-than-normal margin of protection against accidental discharge, by comparison with any other sporting firearm of this general type incorporating a safety functioning merely to block its interrelated trigger, for herein, safety traverse from Fire to Safe positions realizes a concomitant withdrawal of the scar notch of the hammer from its contact with the point of the interengageable sear point and a locking of said hammer in such withdrawn position, whereafter, even should the trigger be pulled, hammer fall and hence Weapon firing are precluded. With the safety in Fire position, the `gun may be -discharged only when and if the trigger is pulled. If the trigger is inadvertently hel-d rearwardly during throw of the safety from Safe to Fire positions, hammer fall is precluded, and to 3,336,69i Patented Aug. 22, g 1967 lCC effect firearm discharge, the trigger must be allowed to move to forwardmost position before rearward pulling thereof, all thereby defining a significant safety feature.

As a further specific refinement, a provided hammer indicator is without ldictation of any increase in t-he total number of operating components and allows ascertainment, visual or by feel, of the cocked or uncooked condition of the hammer.

The firearm is additionally characterized by such a magazine as allows positioning of its topmost-conta-ined cartridge in the vertical plane of the bore, thereby providing a feeding reliability superior to that of similar contemporary sporting guns of this type.

As a further feature, the slide block is bifurcated centrally lalong a vertical plane so as to allow upward passage of the magazine through the bifurcation which is terminated forwardly of the rear end of the magazine. The slide block also defines cam surfaces slidable astride the magazine walls with the a-dvantage that the distance between the front endl of the finger portion of the tri-gger and the rear face of the cartridge, when seated in the chamber, is less than the corresponding distance in contemporary guns, wherewith a shortening of the overall firearm length is attained and without'lany decrease of barrel length.

Upon disassembly, mere removal of front and rear bedding screws permits removal of the entireties of the barrel receiver and trigger housing assemblies from the stock, whereafter all components may be readily dismounted Without further tools, except `as respects the removal of the barrel from the receiver and the butt plate from the stock. Reversely, upon assembly, after placement of the said assemblies into the stock, and while tightening the said front and rear bedding screws, a locking means, defined by a rear housing extension cammable forwardly and slightly downwardly via a provided cam cut in the receiver rear, serves solidly to lock not only the trigger housing assembly relative to the receiver but also the barrel-receiver and trigger housing as'semblies rellative to the stock.

As still another refinement, .a receiver, in the form of a U-shaped stamping with a minimum of simple milling cuts, has a rear end to which a rear insert is securable prior to the necessary machining for streamlining purposes.

The barrel, assembled against a locking plate, is threadedly engaged with a front insert which is held securely in situ against vertical movement as by a project-ion suitably provided on a recoil or locking plate, against lateral movement as by the vertical si-des of the receiver enclosing same, and against longitudinal movement as by lugs which are receivable in complemental grooves in the receiver, all whereby significant degrees of strength and rigidity are attained.

The firearm is further singularized by camming lugs provided on an inverted U-shaped locking bolt so as to protrude outwardly when the locking bolt is assembled in the breech bolt and extend into complemental camming cuts on a slide block for `locking and unlocking the breech bolt and effecting its rearward and forward motivation rectilinearly. Inadvertently omit the lo-cking bolt from the assembly and the breech bolt is precluded from closing upon a live cartridge by reason of the absence of the camming lugs such as are normally contacted by the slide block during breech bolt opening and closing and locking movements.

As another characterizing feature, a plunger-type ejector, maintained in a forward position by an ejector spring, serves to keep t-he cartridge head from entering the rim cut in the breech bolt and thus from being contacted by the firing pin, should the breech bolt assume a semi-closed position without the locking bolt being in place.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a broken view, in side elevation, of the rearm of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragment-ary view, in top plan, of the breech portion of the `firearm, with the action in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view, in section, on line 33 of FIG. 43;

FIG. 4 is a view, in section, on line 4 4 of FIG. 43;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views, in rear and side elevation respectively, of the magazine shell;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, with certain parts in section, of the operating mechanism with the action in closed position, the magazine being omitted;

FIG. 8 is a view, similar .to FIG. 7, showing the rearward portion of the operating mechanism, with the action in opened position, the hammer in cocked position, the trigger in rearward position, and the trigger-Sear pin in position at the top of the sear slot and the magazine in place;

FIG. 9 is a view, similar to FIG. 7, but showing only the firing mechanism and magazine catch, with the hammer in fired position, the trigger in rearward position, and the trigger-Sear pin in position at the top of the sear slot;

FIG. 10 is a view, in top plan, of the ring mechanism shown in FIG. 9, with the safety in Fire position;

FIG. 11 is a view, similar to FIG. 9, showing the irin g mechanism, with the hammer in cocked position, the trigger in forward position, the safety in Safe position, the hammer notch withdrawn from contact with the sear point, and the trigger-Sear pin in position at the top of the sear slot;

FIG. 12 is a view, in top plan, of the safety;

FIG. 13 is a view, in side elevation, of the safety;

FIG. 14 is a View, in section, on line 14-14 of FIG. l0 showing only the lower rear end of the hammer spring serving as a safety detent;

FIG. l5 is a view, in side elevation, of the locking bolt;

FIG. 16 is a view, in front elevation, of the locking bolt;

FIG. 17 is a view, in section, on lines 17-17 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 18 is a view, in section, on line 18-18 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 19 is a view, in section, on line 19-19 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 20 is a view, in section, on line 2%-29 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 2l is a view, in top plan, of the stamped trigger housing;

FIG. 22 is a View, in rear elevation, of the stamped trigger housing;

FIG. 23 is a view, in side elevation, of the stamped trigger housing;

FIG. 24 is a view, in front elevation, of the stamped trigger housing;

FIG. 25 is a view, in top plan, of the cast trigger housing;

FIG. 26 is a view, in side elevation, of the cast trigger housing;

FIG. 27 is a view, in front elevation, of the cast trigger housing;

FIG. 28 is a View, in section, on line 28-28 of FIG. 9 showing the trigger-sear spring;

FIG. 29 is a view, in section, on line 29-29 of FIG. 11, showing the magazine catch spring;

FIG. 30 is a view, in side elevation, of the magazine catch;

FIG. 31 is a view, in front elevation, of the magazine catch;

FIG. 32 is a view, in rear elevation, of the right hand portion of the slide block showing the lower portion of the operating handle in place;

FIG. 33 is a view, in side elevation, of the right hand portion of the slide block;

FIG. 34 is a view, in bottom plan, of the right hand portion of the slide block shown in FIG. 33, with the lower portion of the operating handle being omitted;

FIG. 35 is a view, in side elevation, of the breech bolt and assembled parts;

FIG. 36 is a view, in top plan, of the breech bolt, with the locking bolt being omitted;

FIG. 37 is a view, in front elevation, of the assembled breech bolt, with the locking bolt being omitted;

FIG. 38 is a view, in section, on line 38-38 of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is an enlarged view, in top plan, of the extractor;

FIG. 40 is an enlarged view, in side elevation, of the extractor;

FIG. 41 is an enlarged view, in front elevation, of the extractor;

FIG. 42 is a view, in section, on line 42-42 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 43 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the front portion of the operating mechanism in closed position;

FIG. 44 is a view, in bottom plan, of the receiver stamping with the rear insert permanently secured in place;

FIG. 45 is a view, in rear elevation, of the sear;

FIG. 46 is a view, in side elevation, of the sear;

FIG. 47 is a view, in rear elevation, of the trigger;

FIG. 48 is a view, in side elevation, of the trigger;

FIG. 49 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the barrel-receiver-rear insert-front insert-locking plate assembly;

FIG. 50 is a view, in perspective, of the trigger-sear spring; and

FIG. 51 is a view, in side elevation, of the rear insert prior to its permanent assembly with the receiver and the milling for streamlining purposes.

The firearm, shown in general outline in the FIG. 1 side elevational view, includes a stock 2, stock butt 4, fore end cover 6, barrel 8, receiver 10, and locking plate 12.

Receiver 10, preferentially formed from a stamping, is of inverted U-shape, and its basic simplicity and relation ship with associated parts will be best appreciated by reference to the exploded view of FIG. 49 wherein a rear insert 14 is shown as welded, soldered or brazed thereto. With a front insert 16 positioned within and locking plate 12 positioned adjacent to the forward portion of receiver 10, barrel 8 is passed through a barrel opening 18 extending through the locking plate for threaded engagement with the front insert. In this way, the rearwardly-facing face of an annular barrel shoulder 20 extending radially outwardly of the barrel is pulled into confrontation with the forwardly-facing face of the locking plate. Also, the front insert is concomitantly pulled forwardly to the point where the forwardly-facing faces of lugs 22 extending outwardly of the front insert contact complemental rearwardly-facing faces of lugs 24 defined by cuts provided in the interior of the receiver. Such relationship of components can also be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

With reference again to FIG. 49, -upon assembly, simultaneously with the above, a rearwardly-facing locking plate hook 26 in locking plate 12 engages in a complemental cut provided in the forwardly-facing end face of receiver 10 for locking front insert 16 against relative vertical movement and for mounting barrel 8 in situ with respect to receiver 10.

Similar hooks could be located, additionally to hook 26 provided on top of locking plate 12, for example on the outwardly-facing side walls of said locking plate for engagement with corresponding complemental cuts provided in the sides of the forwardly-facing end face of the receiver wherewith better to insure against outward spreading of the receiver, particularly at its lowermost portions.

As shown in FIGS. 19, 35, 36 and 38, a breech bolt 2S is provided with suitable slots 29 at its mid-section to receive a `straddle locking bolt 30 having outwardlyprotruding cam ears 32 on its opposite sides, see FIGS. and 16.

During rearward reciprocation of a slide block 34,

cam ears 32 are engaged in complemental forward cam cuts 36 in the slide block, see FIG. 7.

Rearward movement of slide block 34 serves to move straddle locking bolt 30 downwardly and out of its locked position las the action is being opened. When a locking portion of the straddle locking bolt is out of position within a parallel-sided locking bolt slot 38 in the upper wall of receiver 10, the slide block is enabled to move the straddle locking bolt rearwardly, carrying breech bolt 28 therewith.

As the straddle locking bolt commences movement downwardly out of locked position, a rear undercut surface 40 thereof, best seen in FIGS. l5 and 35, contacts a camming surface of a ring pin 42 to cause same to be withdrawn rearwardly to a rearward position where it effectively precludes the point of the firing pin from contacting the primer of a cartridge C until the gun is once again fully closed and the locking bolt has assumed its uppermost and locked position. Positive firing pin withdrawal is thus achieved herewith.

Firing pin 42 is retained in position by a firing pin retaining pin 44, in the form of a pin or tube, fitted in the upper rearward portion of breech bolt 28 and restricted against lateral movements by the inside surfaces of slide block 34.

Breech bolt 28, shown in one piece, is preferentially formed of two parts, a front portion including the straddle locking bolt slots, and a rear portion, which two parts may be secured together as by any conventional manner. The front portion may be made from a high tensile strength steel and the rear portion may be formed from an aluminum casting, all wherewith to achieve a significant reduction in breech bolt weight.

A conventional plunger-type ejector 48 (see FIGS. 36 and 37), actuated by an ejector spring 50, is held in place by an ejector retaining pin 52 fitted in breech bolt 28. Vertical movement of the ejector retaining pin is prevented by the fact that its ends contact the inner top wall of receiver 10 and an inwardly-protruding shelf 54 on slide block 34 (see FIG. 19).

As Seen in FIGS. 35, 36, 37, 39, 40 and 41, an extractor 56 is provided with a hook 58 adapted to slide freely within an appropriate cut in thel face of breech bolt 28.

Body 60 of the extractor ts freely in yan extractor body slot in the breech bolt and a cylindrical portion 62 slides in an extractor opening.

A semi-circular cut 64, provided in the outer -free end of cylindrical portion 62 provides a clearance for the front end of ring pin 42.

A groove 66 in extractor body 60 receives the front end of an L-shaped extractor spring 70, the rear end of Vsame rests in la rearwardly extending portion of the extractor slot and passes loosely through a laterallyextending extractor spring opening in breech bolt 28, said spring being retained in place by means of a hook 72. The inherent spring tension of extractor spring 70 retains extractor spring hook 72 in a counterbore of the extractor spring opening in the breech bolt.

When slide block 34 is moved rearwardly from closed position, manually or by gas operation, forward cam cuts 36 contact cam ears 32, and when the locking portion of the locking bolt is withdrawn from the locking bolt slot 38 in the receiver, breech bolt 28 is moved rearwardly therewith.

Extractor 56 withdraws the cartridge or cartridge case from the chamber and ejection through an ejector slot 76 in receiver 10 ensues in manner conventional for a plunger-type ejector.

As breech bolt 28 and rear cam cuts 78 on each side of slide block 34 (FIG. 8), reach rearmost position, the

6 slide block is stopped and starts to move forwardly by means subsequently to be described.

Rear cam cuts 78 contact the respective rear lower cams on cam ears 32 of straddle locking bolt 30 causing the locking bolt and attached breech b-olt to move forwardly therewith.

The breech bolt, during forward movement, strips topmost cartridge C from the magazine ears 80 of a magazine shell 82, and loads it into the chamber in known manner.

As the breech bolt reaches forwardmost position, rear cam cuts 78 in slide block 34 cam cam ears 32 upwardly to force the locking portion of straddle locking bolt 30 into locking bolt slot 38 of receiver 10.

A recoil shoulder 88 of locking bolt slot 38 is disposed at a slight angle to the vertical and the front and rear of the recoil portions of the locking bolt are disposed at a corresponding angle.

As the recoil portion of the locking bolt is moved upwardly in the bolt locking slot in the receiver, the breech bolt is cammed forwardly to give additional leverage for the seating of cartridge C. Conversely, as the slide block moves rearwardly to open the breech bolt, a corresponding leverage is exerted to aid in extraction.

Longitudinally-extending slots 90 in the receiver match mating tongues 92 on slide block 34.

Shelves 54 on slide block 34 support breech bolt 28 and, conjointly with the inside top of the receiver, prevent vertical movement.

Lateral movement of the breech bolt is prevented by the upper inside walls of the split slide block and the inside walls of the receiver.

To facilitate assembly of the breech bolt and slide block into the receiver, a multiplicity of slots 98 are formed in the tongues of the slide block and complemental -openings are provided in the rear lower portion of the receiver.

Breech bolt 28 and assembled parts therewith, sandwiched between the split slide block, can be readily assembled into the receiver by pushing same upwardly through the said complemental openings in the receiver. Simultaneously, double action bars 100, attached to or integral with the front end of the slide block, and to the rear end of a piston block 102, may be pushed upwardly into slots 104 in locking plate 12.

In this position, the rear end of the breech bolt is brought into contact with the front portion of the rear insert, and the rear portion of piston block 102 is brought into contact with the front lower forwardly-facing portion of the locking plate.

While in this extreme rear position, slide block 34 is not supported -by receiver 10 because slide block tongues 92 are in alignment with the complemental openings in the rear lower portion of the receiver.

When the slide block is moved slightly forwardly of its rearmost position, the tongues of the slide block may then be supported in slots 90 of the receiver because of the misalignment of tongues 92 and the receiver openings.

This misalignment is accomplished in the assembled firearm by interposing, after the slide block and breech bolt are in place, a buifer 106 (see FIGS. 17 and 43) of nylon or other suitable material, so as to lie adjacent the forward face of the locking plate.

A suitable opening is provided in the buffer to receive a guide rod 108. Said guide rod supports the front end of the piston andl action bars and slide block assembly and provides positive alignment for the piston into the cylinder.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 an-d 8, the buffer is held in constant contact with the forward face of the locking plate by means of a groove 110 in the lower surface of the locking plate which receives a complemental tongue 112 on the buffer.

A substitute for threads in the nylon buffer in the form of a threaded steel insert, not shown, may be inserted into the buffer to provide threads for the `front bedding screw.

During operation, the slide block assembly, comprising breech bolt 28, slide block 34, double action bars 1011, piston block 102, and a bolt `handle 114, is stopped in its rearward travel as the rear end of the piston block strikes the forward portion of the buffer plate.

Bolt handle 114 may be attached to or integral with the right hand bar of the double action bars. See FIGS. 18, 32 and 33.

If desired, the grasping portion of the bolt handle may be made tubular in configuration (not shown) and a lateral disposed pin placed Within the tubular opening and retained by proper detents or other equivalent means. With the bolt handle in extreme rearward position, the pin may be pressed inwardly into a properly aligned opening in the outside of the receiver, thereby to retain the bolt in retracted position. To release the bolt from retracted position, the pin may be pulled outwardly.

The forward ends of the action bars are suitably fixed to the piston block as by brazing, welding or riveting or may be held relative to the piston block by means of tongues and grooves and retained in place by a clip or equivalent.

Conceivably, the action bars and piston block could be made integral.

The gun is lshown in a ready-to-fire position in FIG. 7. A hammer 120 is cocked and a trigger 122 is in the forward position. A sear point 124 of a sear 126 is engaged in a sear notch 128 of hammer 120. A trigger-scar pin 139 is at t-he bottom of an elongated slot 132 in sear 126.

A rearwardly-disposed lug 136 on the forward middle portion of the trigger 122 is below an inset 138 in the lower front portion of sear 126.

The rounded ears of a double-armed trigger-scar spring 140 are retained in appropriate openings 142 in a cast trigger housing 144 by the inherent outward spring tension of the bend in the central portion of the spring. See FIG. 28.

The lower end of a sear arm 1416 of trigger-Sear spring 140 is retained in the lower rear portion of the sear -by a suitable opening therein so as to exert both a downward and a forward tension to urge the lower end of the scar downwardly and forwardly.

The lower end of a trigger arm 150 of trigger-Sear spring 140 is retained in the lower rear portion of the trigger by a suitable opening and exerts a forward tension on the lower part of the trigger to urge a finger portion 154 of the trigger forwardly.

When the trigger is pulled to discharge the firearm, lug 136 on the trigger contacts a lower forward surface 153 of the sear to cause the sear to rotate clockwise thereby to pull sear point 124 on the upper portion of the sear out of contact with Sear notch 12S of ham-mer 120.

Under tension of a hammer spring 162, hammer 120 falls. Immediately upon release of the hammer by the sear, the sear being no longer under the inuence of the superior tension of the hammer spring through the hammer, is now under the forward and downward tension of the weaker sear arm 146 of trigger-Sear spring 140.

The sear moves downwardly along the trigger-Sear pin and the lower portion moves slightly forwardly until the bottom forward surface 158 of the sear is stopped by the inside rear portion of the trigger and downward movement is precluded by the upper portion of the elongated slot contacting the top surface of the trigger-scar pin 130. At this point, lug 136 on the trigger is within inset 13S of the sear.

The hammer strikes the rear portion of tiring pin 412 and discharges the rearm. The parts a-re now in the FIG. 9 position wherein the trigger is shown as being held in the rear position.

The breech bolt-slide block assembly now recoils rearwardly by means to be described.

The hammer is cocked and the empty shell is ejected. The breech bolt stops in the rear position, when the rearmost portion of piston block 102 strikes buffer 106; as shown in FIG. 8.

As the hammer is cocked, the Sear notch of the hammer passes over the Sear point of the sear and the upper portion of the sear moves forwardly and then rearwardly while lug 136 maintains its position in inset 138 of the sear.

In FIG. 8, the hammer is shown as cocked and in a slightly over-traveled position, the breech bolt is in the rear position and the trigger is held back. The Sear point of the scar is engaged within scar notch of the hammer.

Lug 136 on the trigger is in inset 13S in Sear 126. When the breech bolt closes, as will shortly appear, and the sear notch of the hammer no longer overtravels the Sear point, lug 136 acts as la hook to hold the scar in the down position whereby trigger-Sear pin 131) is in the top portion of elongated slot 132 of the Sear.

The breech bolt is closed and cartridge C is tripped from the magazine and fed into the chamber in conventional manner.

With the breech bolt closed, the operator `releases the trigger forw-ardly. As the rearmost portion of lug 136 on trigger 122 clears the forward lower portion of inset 138, the sear is unhooked from the trigger and the hammer, under the stronger tension of hammer spring 162, moves slightly upwardly carrying the sear therewith and overcoming the resistance of the weaker sear arm of triggersear spring 1419.

Trigger-Sear pin 131B is now at the bottom of elongated slot 132 in the sear. Lug 136 on the trigger is below inset 138 in the lower front portion of the sear and the hammer is held in cocked position by virtue of scar point 124 of scar 126 engaged in sear notch 128 of hammer 120.

The parts are again in position, as shown in FIG. 7, with the trigger in the forward position and the gun ready to be retired.

In FIG. 7, the action is in the closed position, the hammer is in the cocked position, the trigger is in the forward ready-to-tire position, and the trigger-Sear pin is in position at the bottom of the sear slot.

A hump 164 on the lower rear end of hammer 126 acts as a stop, should the hammer overtravel the breech bolt, due to inertia while being cocked.

An arcuate surface 168 in the lower front portion of hammer is of the same configuration as the upper forward portion of the trigger guard and is ush with this portion of the guard when the hammer is in the down position, as shown in FIG. 9.

When the hammer is cocked, a circular portion of the hammer, rearwardly of the arcuate surface 168, protrudes below the surface of the upper forward portion of the trigger guard so as to be exposed, thereby to serve as an indicator to show that the hammer is cocked. This surface may be colored, as for example red, if desired.

The hammer is maintained centrally in cast housing 144 by its lowermost portion being retained in the hammer guide slot 127 in the lower front portion of the cast housing. See FIG. 25.

A safety 187, see FIGS. l2 and 13, is constituted by a base 180, a pivot stud 132 and a thumb piece being staked and/or brazed or welded into place. Alternatively, the entire safety may be made unitarily.

A vertical safety pivot opening 184i is placed centrally in cast housing 144 rearwardly of a hammer pivot pin 186.

A front end 18S of safety 178 acts as a cam to cam a lower at surface 1911 of the cocked hammer forwardly when the safety thumb piece is thrown from the leftward Fire position to the rightward "Safe position.

The front portion of the safety 'base forwardly of the pivot pin may be offset downwardly (not shown) so that the cam surface of the safety contacts the lower Hat surface of the hammer at a greater distance from the hammer pivot pin thereby giving greater leverage to the safety as it cams the hammer sear notch downwardly.

Also, the extreme rear end of the safety base may be lengthened and bent upwardly (not shown) and be of such configuration that when the safety is thrown from the Fire to the Safe position, a portion of the upwardly bent rear end will contact the forward surface of the trigger above the trigger-Sear pin thereby preventing the trigger from being pulled.

The safety provides a greater margin of protection against accidental discharge than is found in firearms having safeties which merely block their triggers. Movement of the safety hereof from Fire to Safe positions withdraws the hammer sear notch from contact with the sear point and locks the hammer in the Withdrawn position so that while the trigger may be pulled, the hammer cannot fall. Only when the safety is placed in Fire position will the gun be discharged if the trigger is pulled. However, if rearward pressure is applied to the trigger, while the safety is being thrown from Safe to Fire position, the hammer cannot fall to re the rie. To discharge the firearm, it is then necessary to allow the trigger to move to its most forward position before being pulled to the rear.

As the lower flat surface of the hammer is cammed forwardly, by front end 188 of the safety, the hammer pivots on the hammer pivot pin and Sear notch 128 moves downwardly out of contact with sear point 124 of sear 126.

As the sear notch of the hammer moves downwardly, sear arm 146 of trigger-scar spring 140 is relieved of the superior tension of the hammer spring, through the hammer, and moves the sear downwardly along elongated slot 132.

When the sear has reached its most downward position and the trigger-Sear pin 130 is at the top of the elongated slot 132, lug 136 on trigger 122 is opposite inset 138 of the .sear so that, should the trigger be pulled rearwardly, the lug would enter the inset and no movement would be imparted to the sear. Meanwhile the sear notch of the hammer is in the overtravelled position with respect to the sear.

The hammer cannot fall because front end 188 of safety 178, when in the Safe position, interposes a block at the lower at surface 190 of the hammer. See FIG. l1.

When the safety is thrown from Safe to Fire positions, front end 188 of safety 178 is moved to the right and out of contact with the lower flat surface of the hammer allowing the hammer to move slightly upwardly carrying with it the sear due to the spring tension of hammer spring 162, so that the parts assume the position shown in FIG. 7.

If the trigger is held to the rear while the safety is being thrown from Safe to Fire positions, the hammer cannot fall to fire for the reason that, as the safety is thrown from Safe to Fire positions, front end 188 of safety 178 moves to the right and out of contact with lower flat surface 190 of hammer 120 to allow the hammer to move upwardly due to the tension of hammer spring 162.

The hammer moves upward slightly until sear notch 128 of hammer 120 contacts sear point 124 of sear 126. Further upward movement is precluded by lug 136 on trigger 122 contacting the lower portion of inset 138 to prevent further upward movement along trigger-Sear pin -130 extendable through elongated slot 132 in sear 126.

In this position, the hammer cannot fall as the sear notch of the hammer cannot be released from the sear point of the sear until the trigger is released and allowed to go forwardly so as to withdraw the lug on the trigger from the sear inset allowing the hammer and sear to move upwardly along the trigger-sear-pin until further upward movement is stopped by the contact of the trigger-Sear pin with the bottom of the elongated slot in the Sear.

The parts now being in the position shown in FIG. 7, the trigger may be pulled so as to fire the gun.

A rear horizontally-extending leg 194 of the mouse trap type torsion hammer spring 162 is bent normally on a horiozntal plane and two inverted U-shaped bends l196 and 198 serve as detent notches on a bent portion 200 of leg 194. See FIGS. 10 and 14.

An upwardly extending hump 204 on base of safety 178 serves as a detent to keep the safety in the Safe or Fire position.

When hump 204 is in left hand bend 196 (as viewed from the butt of the gun), the safety is in the Fire position, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14.

When hump 204 is in the right hand bend 198, the safety is in the Safe position.

A safety assembly slot 206 is provided centrally in cast housing 144, just forwardly of the trigger-Sear pin hole whereby the safety may be assembled, before the assembly of the other parts within the cast housing, by placing pivot stud 182 in the safety pivot hole and the safety thumb piece through safety assembly slot 206. See FIGS. 12, 13, 25 and 26.

Th safety, so assembled, is in a position midway between Safe and Fire positions.

When the safety is in either of the Safe or Fire positions, the lower rear portion of the thumb piece is out of alignment with the rear end of the assembly slot and the safety cannot be moved upwardly out of position.

When the thumb piece is passing midway between the Safe and Fire positions, it is held in place by the downward tension of leg 194 and an opposite shorter leg 210 of hammer spring 162. See FIG. 10.

The safety cannot be thrown to Safe position if the hammer is not cocked in its ready-to-re position. See FIG. 9.

A magazine catch 212 shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, has an upper forward bend 214 in its top portion which fits freely in a retaining slot 216 in a rear magazine well wall 218 of a stamped housing 222, the various parts of which are held together as by brazing, welding, riveting or the like. Same may be unitary, if desired.

A magazine catch lug 224 extends through a lug clearance cut 226 in the mid portion of the rear magazine well wall.

A magazine catch spring 228 has downwardly extending ends which t loosely into appropriate openings in the top of the rear magazine well wall and also through properly aligned openings in upper forward bend 214 in magazine catch 212, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 29 and 31'.

A U-shaped portion 232 of magazine catch spring 228 bears on the rear of magazine catch 212 and provides forward tension thereto. A forward bend 236 in U-shaped portion 232 of the magazine catch spring which, during assembly, is sprung into the upper rear portion of an opening in the magazine catch to prevent upward motion of the spring and thereby to retain the downwardly extending ends of the magazine catch spring in their respective openings.

The tapered magazine shell 82 best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, consists of side walls 240, a front wall 242, a rear wall 244, and magazine ears 80.

A magazine spring and follower 248 are integral all to the effect of reducing the overall height of the magazine.

A front magazine stop 250 and a rear magazine stop 252 protrude outwardly from the front and rear walls respectfully and serve as stops by contacting the lower portions of stamped housing 222 when the magazine reaches its uppermost position when placed in the gun.

A magazine retaining lug 256 protrudes outwardly and downwardly from front wall 242 of the magazine shell and the bottom portion contacts the bottom of a front magazine retaining slot 258 in theinner front well wall of the magazine well in the housing.

Magazine catch lug 224 of magazine catch 212 moves rearwardly and then snaps forwardly into rear magazine retaining slot 260 in rear wall 244 of the magazine as the magazine is pushed upwardly into the magazine well 1 1 and stops 250 and 252 contact the bottom portion of the stamped housing.

The forward portion of a bend 262 of magazine catch lug 224 contacts the rear magazine wall at the rear lower portion of rear magazine retaining slot 260 and due to the aforesaid forward spring tension of the magazine catch spring pushes the magazine forward at which time magazine retaining lug 256 enters the front magazine retaining slot 258 until stopped by Contact of the front magazine wall with the inside portion of the front magazine well wall of the stamped housing.

The magazine is now fully in place and may be removed from the firearm only by pulling rearwardly on the thumb piece portion of the magazine catch.

In FIG. 43, a cylinder block 266 is shown as being dovetailed to barrel 8 but it may be held in place in any other suitable manner.

A gas vent 268 is drilled through cylinder block 266 and communicates with an aligned opening 270 through the lower portion of the barrel.

A screw plug 272 is receivable in the lower enlarged portion of gas vent 268 to seal off same.

Piston block 102 is provided with an integral cylindricalshaped forward end portion 276 which functions as a gas piston.

The piston may be a separate threaded part and made of superior material, if desired.

A forwardly facing wall 280 of the piston portion of piston block 102 around guide rod 108 is provided with an annular concaved ring providing a pair `of sharp edges which function as Scrapers and assist in keeping the guide rod and the inside wall of the cylinder free of carbon and fouling accumulation.

An annular portion of piston block 102 immediately to the rear of forward end portion 276 is concaved to act as a gas deflector and to deflect gasses forwardly when the piston leaves the cylinder during operation.

Forward end portion 276 is provided with a longitudinally-extending horizontally-disposed bore through which the forward end of guide rod 108 extends whereby piston block 102 slides freely relative to the guide rod.

A compressible detent spring clip 284 is a unitary structure and is formed from spring wire or equivalent material and fits into a transversely extending slot through the forward end of guide rod 106, as shown in FIG. 43.

Upon assembly, it is compressible so as to be receivable in the slot of guide rod 108 and is held thereto by its own spring tension.

The forward extremities Iof double action bars 100, which extend forwardly of slide block 34 and through locking plate slots 104 are fastened to piston block 102.

When slide block 34, attached to piston block 102 by means of double action bars 100, is assembled in slots 90 in the receiver, it effectively forms a slide block in a T slot. See FIGS. 1S and 19.

Any tendency of piston block 102 to rotate about guide rod 108 is precluded by the double action bars fitting in slots 104 in locking plate 12 and by breech bolt 2S sandwiched in slide block 34 in receiver 10, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

A recoil spring is provided and comprises a small diameter spring 288 which is wound right hand (or left hand if desired) and a large diameter spring 290 which is wound the opposite hand from the winding of the small diameter spring.

By means of the two springs, a spring action more nearly like that of a spring which is longer than space permits in this instance, is achieved.

By means thereof, I obtain a softer spring action and a more desirable scale to the spring while keeping down the fiber stress.

To assemble the parts attached to barrel and receiver 10, breech bolt 28 with all related parts assembled is placed between the inner sides of slide block 34 with cam ears 32 lof straddle locking bolt 30 in the cam slots of 12 the slide block (which is properly attached to double aetion bars the double action bars having been assembled to piston block 102.

The rear end of this assembly is pushed upward into the receiver through the assembly slots in the lower rear end of receiver 10.

Meanwhile, the double action bars are pushed upwardly also into slots 104 in locking plate 12. Guide rod 103 is pushed through cylinder block 266 and into piston block 102.

The complete slide block assembly is then moved slightly forward to retain the slide block in retainer grooves of receiver 10.

Buffer 106 is placed in position with tongue 112 of the buffer tting into groove 110 in locking plate 12.

To assemble the springs into the firearm, the springs are placed one inside the other and the guide rod is moved until the rear end is sullciently forward of buffer 106 to enable the springs to be pushed forward and compressed on guide rod 108.

Guide rod 108 is then pushed rearwardly through the opening in buffer 106 and threaded into locking plate 12 until detent spring clip 284 is brought into engagement with a series of radial detent cuts or notches (not shown) in the forward face of cylinder block 266.

Detent spring clip 284, contacting the notches, prevents the unscrewing of the guide rod during the shocks of semi-automatic firing.

Alternatively, a straight knurl 109 (FIG. 43) may be provided at the extreme rearward end of guide rod 108 to keep the guide rod from rotating during semi-automatic firing.

Subsequent tightening of the bedding screw serves to pull downwardly on the buffer plate and hence on the guide rod.

The stamped housing 222 and all parts attached thereto are now assembled to the receiver and its associated mechanis-ms in a manner about to be described.

A rear bent portion 292 of rear housing extension 294 of the stamped housing 222 is now pushed upwardly and rearwardly in a housing extension opening 296 in the rear portion of receiver 10.

The lower portion of the rear housing extension opening is of suicient depth to receive rear housing extension 294 during assembly.

When the extreme upper rear end of bent portion 292 of rear housing extension 294 strikes on the extreme rear of housing extension opening 296 to preclude further rearward movement of stamped housing 222, the front end of the stamped housing is pushed upwardly until an assembly lug 298 on the extreme upper forward end of the stamped housing is aligned with the assembly slot in the lower rear end of front insert 16 at which time the stamped housing is moved forwardly and the assembly lug enters the assembly slot.

Further forward movement of the stamped housing is precluded by the extreme forward end of the stamped housing striking the lower rear end of the front insert.

The barrel-receiver assembly and all related parts including the stamped housing are placed in the stock.

A front bedding screw 300 is pushed upwardly through its appropriate opening and screwed in buffer 106 until the lower surface of the front insert is in firm contact with the front bedding surface of the stock.

The assembly lug on the stamped housing 222 is now retained in the assembly slot of the front insert as the extreme lower rear end of the rear housing extension of the stamped housing cannot move rearwardly suciently to allow the assembly lug 298 to clear the assembly slot due to the proximity of the wood 301 of the stock at the rearmost portion ofthe housing, all so as to effect retaining of the stamped housing loosely in place.

Cast housing 144 with all parts asesmbled thereto, is pushed forwardly and upwardly into the lower rear portion of stamped housing 222 until a front inset 302 von housing 144 contacts lugs 304 on the rearwardly bent portion of rear magazine well wall 218 of stamped housing 222 at which time the rear end of the cast housing assembly is pushed upward until the upper portion of a tang 306 of the cast housing contacts a rear housing bedding surface of the stock. This precludes further upward movement of the housing.

The trigger-scar pin and hammer pivot pin are slip fits in their respective holes to permit easy removal without the use of tools.

With the cast housing asse-mbled in the stamped housing, the pins are retained in place by the inside walls of the stamped housing.

A rear bedding screw 308 is pushed upwardly through a stock bushing 310 until the threaded portion thereof contacts threads in bent portion 292 of rear housing extension 294 whereupon it is screwed therein.

As the rear bedding screw is tightened, the beveled portion of the screw head strikes an arcuate beveled surface 312 of cast housing tang 306.

A stock clearance cut is of such configuration as to prevent the beveled surface of the screw head from contacting the wood rearwardly of the tang of the cast housing.

The stock bushing 310 precludes unwanted movement of the screw.

Continued tightening forces the rear end of cast housing 144 upwardly and cams it forwardly until the upper portion of tang 306 is in firm contact with the rear bedding surface of the stock and the cast housing inset 302 is solidly locked on the lugs 304 of stamped housing 222.

Meanwhile, the rear bedding screw threadedly engaged in the opening of the bent portion 292 of rear housing extension 294 of the stamped housing, pulls the rear end of the stamped housing downward therewith.

As the bent portion of the rear housing extension is at a corresponding angle to a cam surface 314 in housing extension opening 296 in the receiver, the stamped housing, along with the cast housing, are cammed forwardly until the front portion of the stamped housing is pressed solidly against the lower rear portion of the front insert 16 to preclude further forward movement, the assembly lug 29S being in the slot in the lower rear portion of the front insert 16 as previously'described.

Both housings are now locked solidly together. In turn, they are locked solidly in the receiver.

The rear bedding screw 308 has pulled the underside of the bent portion of the rear housing extension firmly against the cam surface 314 in the housing extension opening in the rear portion of the receiver, which in turn has pulled a rear bedding surface 316 of the receiver in fir-m contact upon the rear receiver bedding surface of the upper portion of the stock.

The upper rear portion of tang 306 of cast housing 144 bears solidly on the rear housing bedding surface in the' lower portion of the stock.

In the above, the rear insert, which has been brazed, Welded, soldered or otherwise permanently attached to the receiver, prior to streamlining, is called the rear portion of the receiver.

The front bedding screw is now finally tightened. The bedding surface of the front insert is down upon the front bedding surface of the stock and the top of the opening in buffer 106 in firm contact with the guide rod.

FIG. 42 shows the locking plate bearing on the recoil surfaces 318 of the stock, when the gun is completely assembled. Y

The permanent assembly of the barrel to the receiver has, in effect, made the front insert a part of the receiver.

Fore end cover 6 is placed over the barrel and held in place by such means as retaining clips.

In operation, after cartridge C is red and the bullet has passed the aligned gas vent openings, gas passes from the barrel therethrough under high pressure to the piston chamber and strikes the piston head the conventional sharp blow.

. Thereby, a portion of the energy of the discharge of the firearm is transmitted to the piston and the recoil springs. After the inertia of the slide block assembly including the piston block, action bars, operating handle, and split slide block, has been overcome, rearward movement of the assembly is initiated.

The slide block assembly initially travels a short distance of pretravel. The pretravel distance may be varied or controlled during manufacture, as desired. This offers the bullet an opportunity to have left the muzzle whereby the chamber pressure is suflici-ently reduced to facilitate easy extraction.

The slide block cams the locking bolt out of the locking bolt slot in the receiver. The slide block assembly and the breech bolt assembly which consists of the breech bolt, locking bolt, ring pin, firing pin retaining pin, ejector, ejector spring, ejector retaining pin, extractor, and extractor spring, travel rearwardly in conventional manner by means of the force imparted to the front end of the piston by gas resulting from the explosion of the cartridge as is known. v

The weight of the slide block assembly being several times greater than the total weight of the breech block allows the former to hold its momentum as it carries the latter therewith to the rear.

During this period of rearward travel, the cartridge is ejected by the ejector, the hammer is cocked by the rear of the breech bolt, and the rear of the piston block strikes the buffer to stop the slide block and breech bolt assemblies in their rearmost position.

The recoil springs meanwhile have been compressed.

During its forward travel, by means of the recoil springs releasing their tension, the breech bolt picks up a cartridge from the magazine and feeds it into the chamber of the barrel and the slide block cams the locking bolt in the locked position.

I clai-m:

1. In a firearm including a stock and a barrel and a housing subassembly and a recoil mechanism and a buffer and a guide rod,

the improvement in a stock/ barrel fastening subassembly comprising, an inverted U-shaped grooved receiver,

a front insert complementally grooved for mating relationship with said receiver and having a threaded barrel opening extending therethrough,

an apertured locking plate positionable forwardly of said front insert with the barrel being extendable through the aperture thereof for threaded engagement in the opening of said front insert,

said front insert having a bottom seatable on the stock,

means for interengaging said locking plate and the buffer in contiguous relation for the transmission of the blows of the recoil mechanism from the buffer to said locking plate,

means for engaging the guide rod relative to said locking plate, and

means for pulling the buffer downwardly with reference to the guide rod for effecting downward pull of said lockingplate and concomitant downward pull of the harrel-receiver-front insert assemblage relative to the stock.

2. In the structure of claim 1 including,

said locking plate having a notch engaging projection and said receiver having a projection engaging notch for the interengagernent of the projection and notch with said front insert being held in situ against vertical movement with respect to said receiver.

3. In the structure of claim 1 including,

cam means on said receiver and the housing subassembly for camming the housing subassembly into locking engagement With said receiver.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN A. BGRCHELT, Examiner. 

1. IN A FIREARM INCLUDING A STOCK AND A BARREL AND A HOUSING SUBASSEMBLY AND A RECOIL MECHANISM AND A BUFFER AND A GUIDE ROD, THE IMPROVEMENT IN A STOCK/BARREL FASTENING SUBASSEMBLY COMPRISING, AN INVERTED U-SHAPED GROOVED RECEIVER, A FRONT INSERT COMPLEMENTALLY GROOVED FOR MATING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID RECEIVER AND HAVING A THREADED BARREL OPENING EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, AN APERTURED LOCKING PLATE POSITIONABLE FORWARDLY OF SAID FRONT INSERT WITH THE BARREL BEING EXTENDABLE THROUGH THE APERTURE THEREOF FOR THREADED ENGAGEMENT IN THE OPENING OF SAID FRONT INSERT, SAID FRONT INSERT HAVING A BOTTOM SEATABLE ON THE STOCK, MEANS FOR INTERENGAGING SAID LOCKING PLATE AND THE BUFFER IN CONTIGUOUS RELATION FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF THE BLOWS OF THE RECOIL MECHANISM FROM THE BUFFER TO SAID LOCKING PLATE, MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE GUIDE ROD RELATIVE TO SAID LOCKING PLATE, AND MEANS FOR PULLING DOWNWARDLY WITH REFERENCE TO THE GUIDE ROD FOR EFFECTING DOWNWARD PULL OF SAID LOCKING PLATE AND CONCOMITANT DOWNWARD PULL OF THE BARREL-RECEIVER-FRONT INSERT ASSEMBLAGE RELATIVE TO THE STOCK. 